Westling was a highly decorated infantry officer and former dean of the college’s Extended Studies Division, now Adult Higher Education. The scholarship is non-renewable and awarded to new students each year.

Before joining the college, Westling served in the U.S. Army for 31 years, fighting in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star medals and earned parachutist and glider badges. During the Vietnam War, he commanded the Army’s 4th Psychological Operations Group in Saigon and retired as colonel.